dot NOCA Poll Question Archive

2007 Polls

2006 Polls

2005 Polls

2004 Polls

2003 Polls


2003 Poll Questions

How have current economic conditions impacted applications to your certification program?

Applications have increased 35%
Applications have decreased 31%
Applications have not been impacted 23%
Do not know 11%









Do individuals who hold a certification from your organization receive higher compensation?

Yes 52%
No 28%
Do not know 13%
Not applicatble, certification is required 7%









Does your Board of Directors have a public member?

Yes 62%
No 27%
What is a public member? 11%


Does your certification program certify individuals outside of the US/Canada?

Yes (in Mexico/Central America) 6%
Yes (in Europe) 6%
Yes (in Asia) 9%
Yes (in Australia) 3%
Yes (other) 5%
Yes (my program certifies individuals in more than one area above) 37%
No 34%



2004 Poll Questions

What is the most valuable benefit NOCA membership offers?

Educational seminars and the annual conference 34%
Serving as an information resource 22%
Advocacy on behalf of the certification community 12%
Networking Opportunities 24%
Discounted rates on educational events and publications 5%
Other 3%


How long has your certification organization been in existence?

0 - 5 years 13%
6 - 10 years 17%
11 - 20 years 26%
More than 20 years 44%


How much do you charge candidates to take your exam?

$1 - $100 24%
$101 - $500 63%
$501 - $1000 9%
More than $1000 4%


If an item is performing well, which of the following is the most influential in determining when to remove a question from your organization's item bank?

Number of test administrations 16%
Number of years the item is used 7%
Job/tast Analysis 28%
Changes in the industry 49%


How does your program recertify candidates?

Continuing Education 51%
Examination 10%
Both 31%
My program does not recertify candidates 8%


How do you administer your examination? (134 responses)

Written Exam 46%
Computer-based Testing 39%
Online Exam 10%
Oral 2%
Other 3%


How many countries is your credential offered in? (70 responses)

1 - 3 Countries 58%
4 - 8 Countries 7%
9 - 15 Countries 8%
16 - 20 Countries 5%
More than 20 20%


Does your certification organization/agency allow extra testing time for ESL candidates who do not qualify for extra time under the Americans With Disabilities Act? If so do you charge for extra time? (32 responses)

No 71%
Yes to candidates that request it at no additional cost 9%
Yes to candidates that provide ESL documentation at no additional 12%
Yes to candidates that request it for an additional fee 3%
Yes to candidates that provide ESL documentation for an additional fee 3%


What are the educational requirements for your credential? (107 responses)

High School Diploma 21%
Bachelor's Degree 23%
Bachelor's and Master's Degree 22%
Doctorate 11%
No educational Requirement 16%
Other 4%


How have applications for your certification program(s) changed during the last year? (48 responses)

Applications have decreased 22%
Applications have increased by up to 25% 31%
Applications have increased by 26% - 50% 27%
No change 18%




2005 Poll Questions

How many different credentials does your certification organization offer? (132 responses)

1 - 3 63%
4 - 6 15%
7 - 9 8%
10 or more 12%


After initial certification, what percentage of your certificants recertify? (54 responses)

Less than 25% 12%
25 - 50% 14%
51 - 75% 31%
76 - 90% 18%
91 - 100% 22%


How are the majority of the members of your certification board selected? (49 responses)

Elected by Certifants 30%
Appointed by the board of a parent organization 24%
Appointed by the certification board after nomination by certificants 16%
Appointed by the certification board 22%
Other 6%


What is your organization's tax status? (55 responses)

501(c)3 34%
501(c)6 43%
My organization is for profit 14%


Do you offer a "retired" credential category and if so, what is the cost to certificants? (72 responses)

No 60%
Yes-the cost is the same as for our other credentialed members 6%
Yes-less than our other credentialed members 31%
Yes-more than our other credentialed members 4%


How many full-time employees work for your certification program? (59 responses)

1-3 42%
4-6 22%
7-10 10%
11-20 5%
21 or more 20%


How often does your certification program conduct a job/task analysis? (59 responses)

Every year 8%
Between 1 - 5 57%
Between 6 - 10 years 17%
11 years or more 3%
We have never conducted a job analysis 12%


How often are your certificants required to recertify? (99 votes)

Every year 16%
2 - 4 years 37%
5 - 6 years 29%
7 - 8 years 2%
9 years or more 4%
Recertification is not required 12%


Is there an international organization (non-U.S. based) that has a competing credential to yours? (44 responses)

Yes 41%
No 39%
I don't know 20%


In the next five years, do you plan on launching another certification program (in addition to your current programs)?

Yes 74%
No 11%
Maybe 10%
I don't know 6%



2006 Poll Questions

Does your certification require membership as a criteria for certification? (77 responses)

Yes 22%
No 71%
I don't know 7%


How often do your certificants recertify? (73 responses)

Every Year 8%
Every 2-3 Years 48%
Every 4-5 Years 37%
Every 6-7 Years 1%
Candidates are not required to recertify 4%
I do not know 1%


In addition to your professional credentialing program, do you also offer a certificate program(s)? (37 responses)

Yes 27%
No 43%
No, but considering launching a certificate program 19%
Do not know 11%


Does your organization monitor government legislation that impacts your field of certification? (50 responses)

Yes 66%
No 20%
No, but we plan to 6%
Do now know 8%


How have current economic conditions impacted applications to your certification program? (31 responses)

Applications have increased 39%
Applications have decreased 13%
Applications have not been impacted 32%
Do not know 16%


Are background checks a component of your certification/recertification process? (59 responses)

Yes 41%
No 49%
No, but we plan to 5%
Do not know 5%


What is the retention rate for your certification board? (39 responses)

0-25% 3%
26-50% 15%
51-75% 23%
76-100% 46%
Doesn't apply/Do not know 13%


Which option does your certification organization see as the best option for recruiting new applicants? (45 responses)

Mail 16%
Email 18%
Website 22%
Telephone 4%
Ads in industry trade publications 11%
We don't recruit 20%
Unsure 2%
Other 7%


What did you find to be most beneficial about your NOCA Membership in 2006? (48 responses)

Academy Seminars 10%
Annual Conference 33%
Website Resources 17%
NCCA Accreditation 25%
Other 15%




2007 Poll Questions

Which one of the following is the most critical area NOCA should focus on when redesigning the NOCA/NCCA website? (62 responses)

Brand recognition of NOCA/NCCA 11%
Information Architecture (navigation, organization, restructuring) 34%
Visual (graphic) design 2%
Content Development 39%
Chat or Discussion Areas 15%


How likely is it that you would recommend NOCA to a friend or colleague? 10 is extremely likely and 1 is not at all likely. (From Fred Reichheld's "The Ultimate Question")

10 46%
9 4%
8 15%
7 10%
6 8%
5 5%
4 2%
3 1%
2 1%
1 7%